Clarkesville begins next phase of downtown rebuilding

CLARKESVILLE — At least 75 people gathered on the east side of the Clarkesville Square Tuesday night for a brief ceremony launching the redevelopment of buildings that burned two years ago.

Mayor Barrie Aycock welcomed those gathered and unveiled a color rendering of what the rebuilt east side of the square will look like when work is completed, tentatively later this year.

City Manager Barbara Kesler said she remembers standing with then-Mayor Terry Greene the morning after fire devastated a number of businesses on the square.

"I remember the morning after the fire as I stood here with Mayor Terry Greene," Kesler said. "He envisioned that the fire-damaged buildings could be restored to their historic character. With his leadership, the city began the road to reconstruction, and with the leadership of Mayor Barrie Aycock, our city council and our project team, we will see this redevelopment through to conclusion."

Following a brief period of introductions, members of city government, the downtown development authority and the project team participated in a ceremonial groundbreaking in front of the damaged buildings.

Clarkesville Mayor Barrie Aycock unveils the rendering of what the redeveloped east side of the Clarkesville Square will look like when completed.

This rendering shows what the east side of the Clarkesville Square will look like once redevelopment work is completed.

Officials from the City of Clarkesville, its downtown development authority and the project team participate in a ceremonial groundbreaking for the redevelopment project.

Clarkesville City Councilman Franklin Brown takes a photo of the rendering of the redevelopment plans for the east side of the square as Main Street Director Mary Beth Horton looks on.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2016/4/384651/clarkesville-begins-next-phase-of-downtown-rebuilding